1. . Digestive system is a group of organs that convert macro food into
micro particals energy to supply the entire body and eliminates waste
material.
The Digestive system begins at the mouth /oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus,
stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, and ends at the anus.
There are few accessoryorgans that assist in digestion (Teeth, tongue,
salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas).
2. Anatomy of Digestive System
The GI Tract (Gastrointestinal Tract) starts from the mouth, inside the
mouth there are many accessoryorgans that assist in the digestion of food
are,
1. The tongue,
2. The teeth,
3. Salivary glands (Parotid, Sub-lingual and Sub-mandibular glands)
Teeth chop food into small pieces, then it is moistened by saliva then
tongue pushes the food into the pharynx.
The pharynx is a funnel-shaped tube connected to the posterior end of the
mouth. It moves the chewed food from the mouth to the esophagus.
The pharynx also plays a role in the respiratory system, as air from the
nasal cavity passes through the pharynx on its way to the larynx and to the
lungs. The pharynx contains a flap of tissue known as the epiglottis that
acts as a switch to route food to the esophagus and air to the larynx.
3. The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach.
cardiac sphincter is present in the junction between esophagus and
stomach.
The stomachis a muscular sac that is located on the left side of the
abdominal cavity, just inferior to the diaphragm. It acts as a storage place
for food so that it digests large meals properly. The stomach contains HCL
(hydrochloric acid) and digestive enzymes that aids in breaking down the
large substanceinto smaller substances. Then the digested material passes
to the Small intestine via pyloric sphincter.
The small intestine is divided into,
1. Duodenum
2. Jejunum
3. Ileum
Small intestine is located just inferior to the stomach and takes up most of
the space in the abdominal cavity. The entire small intestine is coiled like a
hose and the inside surface is fullof many ridges and folds. These folds are
used to maximize the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. By the
time food leaves the small intestine, around 90% of all nutrients have been
extracted from the food.
4. Accessorydigestive organs found in the abdominal region are,
1. Liver
2. Gallbladder
3. Pancreas
The liver is an accessory organ of the digestive system located to the right
upper quadrant of the abdomen, right side of the stomach, just inferior to
the diaphragm and superior to the small intestine.
The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. Theliver has many
different functions in the body, but the main function of the liver in
digestion is the productionof bile and its secretion into the small intestine
(duodenum).
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located just inferior to the
liver. The gallbladder is used to store and recycle excess bile from the
small intestine so that it can be reused for the digestion of subsequent
meals.
The pancreas is a large gland located just inferior and posterior to the
stomach. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine
5. to complete the chemical digestion of foods. Endocrine function of
pancreas is Insulin production.
From Small intestine the digested food passes to the large intestine. via
Iliocecal valve.
The large intestine is a long, thick tube divided into,
1. Cecum,
2. Ascending colon,
3. Transverse colon,
4. Descending colon,
5. Sigmoid colon
6. Rectum
7. Anus
Large intestine is located just inferior to the stomach and wraps around
the superior and lateral border of the small intestine. The large intestine
absorbs water and contains many symbiotic bacteria that aid in the
breaking down of wastes to extract some small amounts of nutrients. Feces
in the large intestine exit the bodythrough the anal canal.
6. Functions of the digestive system:
• Ingestion
• Secretion
• Mixing and movement
• Digestion
• Absorption
• Excretion
Common disease ofDigestive system:
1. GERD – Stomach acid flows backwards causing discomfort
2. Crohn’s disease - Inflammation that affects the lining of the digestive tract.
3. Irritable bowel syndrome- Is a problem that affects the large intestine.
4. Diverticulosis - Small, bulging pouches develop in the digestive tract.
5. Colitis - Inflammation of the inner lining of the colon.
6. Colon Polyp - A small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Digestive system
1. Abdominal pain
2. Blood in the stool
3. Bloating
4. Constipation
5. Diarrhea
6. Heartburn
7. Incontinence
